Retail Round-Up: Christmas in Dubai and Ikea’s Newest Expansion Plan

Carless city dwellers in Vancouver and Toronto will soon be able to enjoy scaled-down Ikea shopping experiences. The Swedish company recently announced that they will roll out stores one tenth the size of the typical Ikea, with the option to pick up online purchases in stores. (Business Vancouver)

Montreal’s LXR&Co is set on being the first true vintage luxury brand. They have a strong wholesale and online business, but the focus is on expanding their brick-and-mortar presence. They have stores in Beverly Hills, New York City, and a shop-in-shop store in Hudson’s Bay in Toronto, where a client recently dropped $150,000 on vintage Hermès handbag. (Montreal Gazette)

The city of Dubai doesn’t normally evoke images of a three-day Christmas festival with carols and snow, but an influx of expats are driving the trend to observe the traditionally Christian holiday. The same goes for big cities in China, where malls are decked out in tinsel and and festive decor. It’s yet another reason to spend money, and retailers aren’t complaining. (Bloomgberg)

Retailers have taken note of people’s last-minute holiday shopping habits, and are coming up with new ways to attract them. Free shipping, gift wrapping, same-day delivery, and “extra help” are the latest ploys to make shopping easier for consumers who’ve postponed their purchases till now. (Forbes)

Apple Pay is becoming an accepted form of payment at more and more retailers including Whole Foods and Staples. The company is leading the way in terms of smartphone-based e-commerce products, surpassing AT&T and Google. According to consumer, line-busting abilities are Apple Pay’s main advantage. (The New York Times)